Pages

Friday, January 19, 2018

Should pets be allowed on public transport?

Dogs like Chiana would get out and about more if they could travel (with their owners) on public transport.

If you could travel with your pet on public transport,
would you consider giving up your car? According to a study by Jennifer Kent
and Corinne Mulley, a number of Sydney-dwelling dog owners would consider relinquishing
their private vehicle if they were able to travel with their pets on public
transport.

The study, published inTransportation Research Part A, included a survey of 1257
Sydney-based dog owners. It confirmed that because dogs are prohibited on most forms
of public transport in Sydney (they can be transported on a bus, if contained,
and at the discretion of the driver), dog owners have no alternative but to
drive on non-walkable, dog-related trips.

That includes trips to dog walking spaces, dog-friendly
cafes and bars, and visiting family and friends, as well as trips to the vet.

The Annandale Hotel is one pub advertising its canine-friendly facilities.

I must admit that I don’t frequently peruse the pages of Transportation Research Part A, but this
paper is hard to put down. There is an acknowledged need in Sydney, like other
cities, to reduce traffic and its associated environmental costs. At the same
time, urban planners seek to promote the well-being of citizens and engagement
with recreational spaces. Reducing people’s dependence on cars – by providing
excellent public transport – is one way to do this. But we also need to ensure
that public transport is accessible and meets people’s needs. Its a human and animal welfare issue.

The authors found that each household made an average of
3.8 dog-related trips by car each week. Considering there are 4.9 people living
in Sydney, and 1.6 million households, 39 per cent which comprise at least one
canine, that is a possible 2.4 million dog related trips – by car – each week.

This includes trips to the vet, 86 per cent of which are by car. Concerningly,
13.9 per cent of dog owners surveyed said that lack of transport had prevented
them from taking their dog to the vet in the last 12 months.

This certainly resonates with my experience. We have a
number of clients who, living in the city, don’t have space for a car. Some
rely on car-share services to get to the vet, but car-share services only
provide a certain number of pet-friendly cars – and these are often booked.

Allowing pets on public transport would benefit those
animals because it would enable them to accompany owners on trips, and make vet
visits they may otherwise not be able to make (or not be able to make without
incurring additional expenses). It would benefit owners because it would allow
them to enjoy more time outside of their home with their dogs (and for most
dogs, that’s good for their mental health).

Indeed, the study found that if pets were allowed on
public transport, more than 55 per cent of dog owners would attend additional
activities with their dog – and 20 per cent would consider not having a car.

This would benefit the non-pet owning public (and the
environment) by reducing the number of dog-related private car trips per week.

Of course, there would need to be some rules and
guidelines to ensure the safety and well-being of humans and animals. The authors
examined policies of countries and cities where pets are allowed on public transport.
Strategies included confining pets to one area of a bus or train carriage,
restrictions around travelling during peak periods, and rules about carrying dogs
in lifts and on escalators. Most placed limits on dog behaviour by requesting
that dogs be accompanied at all times and be on a lead, and/or in control of an
owner.

You can read more about the study here, or if you have access
download it via Science Direct here.

Where have I been?

Happy New Year! As I mentioned last year, I’m posting less
frequently as I am working on a long-term animal welfare project which has
necessitated some serious reclaiming of my time.

One of the biggest things to happen last year was publication of #thevetcookbook, a project put together by Deepa Gopinath, Jenna Moss Davis, Asti May and myself, and produced by the Centre for Veterinary Education. I will post about this further, but there are some (limited) copies available through the Centre for Veterinary Education. You will need to create a profile and login to order a copy online, or you can phone them directly.

I will continue to
post on matters related to the veterinary profession and animal welfare from time to time, and I
appreciate all of the emails and suggestions.

Veterinary Ethics: Navigating Tough Cases

WARNING

All images and content on this site are copyright Anne Fawcett unless stated otherwise and should not be reproduced without written permission. Please be aware that some surgical and clinical images are used on this site.